The path to Prosperity – Step four ACTION

Prosperity is taught throughout the Bible. God’s infallible Word declares: “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). Prosperity is not an accident but the result of the Word of God being correctly applied in your life. True biblical prosperity is the ability to use God’s ability (in you) to meet the needs of others. Divine prosperity involves Spirit, Soul and Body; and it is the will of God for all believers. To prosper implies “to excel in something desirable.” The Greek word literally means “to help on the road” or “to succeed in reaching.” Therefore, prosperity is not a momentary passing phenomenon, but rather, an ongoing state of success and well-being. Prosperity is vital if you are to attain true happiness.

Prosperity is so dynamic that to some it’s the eight wonder of the world. This may be an extreme view, but if you were to see it in its totality (spirit, soul and body), you’d probably stand in awe. It is invisible but has very visible results. It is profound yet also simplistic. When you fully understand its laws, and employ them, you’ll set an unstoppable flow of abundance in motion. Yes, you will start to live the ‘superabundant’ life Jesus promised in John 10:10.

Here's the good news: there are distinct and dynamic laws of prosperity that you can follow in your journey toward achieving life abundance and prosperity – in securing a life that’s out of the ordinary! However, it’s going to take two important things, (1) faith and (2) action. James 2:26 says, “A body that doesn’t breathe is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing is dead.” Therefore, in understanding how to attract prosperity into your life, know that there are two aspects to the whole concept. Firstly, you must have sufficient knowledge of God’s Word in order to build up your faith. Especially concerning what the Word says about prosperity. Of course, you will need knowledge of what it takes to achieve the reality you seek, but this knowledge must line up to the Word. Secondly, you must practice prosperity.

On a daily basis, your thoughts and feelings must arise out of your "laws of prosperity" knowledge. Like any change you seek in life, doing must follow the knowing. The story of Moses and Joshua deals with this concept of the dynamic laws of prosperity. Moses had prosperity knowledge (the Land of Milk and Honey), but Joshua loved the laws of prosperity and used them as he faithfully carried out Moses' commands. And as a result, God was able to use him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua spent decades in slavery yet kept the faith and kept growing and learning. Eventually he conquered the land, supervised the division of the territory among the 12 tribes, and led the people to renew their covenant with God. Joshua had faith, but he always put his faith into action!

Doing right is thinking right! That being the case, your thoughts must line up with your ultimate objective. In your mind you must see what doesn’t yet exist. 1 Corinthians 4:18 says, “We don’t look for things that can be seen but for things that can’t be seen. For things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can’t be seen will last forever.” This is seeing with your mind’s eye!

We must all understand this principle... What you constantly see in your mind’s eye (or think about) creates your reality. Therefore, be sure that you create your present and future by filling your mind only with that which you truly desire. If your present isn't one you are enjoying, pay close attention to your thoughts from the past. What were your thoughts and what were you attracting? Negative thoughts attract negative circumstances. For many of you it may be time to change that thought pattern. After all, God’s in total control!

There's nothing worse than living life as if everything happens to you by accident and that you have no control over your reality. Nothing could be more wrong. You can control it all by applying God’s Word correctly in your life. To be happy and fulfilled in life, you can't have a "victim mentality" where you place blame on others for the pain in your life. You must control your thinking and reactions to what others do to you. You can't control others - but you can control how you let others affect you.

Yes, others can do horrible things. But, it's how you react that is important. Understand that God wants you to be the vessel through which His prosperity can flow. In this respect, your are the source of prosperity. Remain a victim, lay blame and repel prosperity by living a life based on negativity, or simply accept that God’s in complete control and attract prosperity by laying positive thoughts over every part of your life. Wrap every circumstance in faith! Is it always easy? No, but the choice is there for you to make.

It helps to build your belief that (in Christ) you're in control of your life. That is, if you look at the world with a positive outlook to begin with. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Always see the positive! Believe in the good in others. Operate from this higher place in everything you do. This way of thinking and "being" will allow you to accept the prosperity you deserve.

Then in the process, be very careful to be “aware” in each moment of each choice you allow yourself to make. Every choice in this very moment helps determine your future. Be aware of any habits you have in thinking negatively or making choices that aren't in harmony with your vision of your desired life. When something or someone acts negatively around you, combat it by saying, "I am living an abundant and prosperous life. I feel that inner peace. This is what God wants for me."

Over time, you'll be able to act joyful and be peaceful in each present moment of your life, no matter what's happening around you. Living in the now is the secret of abundant life and prosperity. Know that you will achieve all you desire just as if you possess it right now. This is extremely powerful as it is the essence of true faith - believing that you’ve already received what you’ve asked God for (Mark 11:24). When you are fully convicted in your belief that your goals are already achieved (no matter how far away they may seem), it creates a real expectation in your mind. Remember, faith is the substance of things hoped for - things confidently expected! This expectation causes you to think and therefore act only in ways that result in the realisation of your God-given desires.

This is why worry has no place in your life anymore. Worry is simply the expectation of that which you don't want to happen. Stay focused on the conviction and expectation of that which you desire the most that which God has placed in your heart. After all, He has promised to give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 20:4; 37:4) Remember the story of Joshua. He loved the dynamic laws of prosperity so much that he put them into practice. What God had placed in his heart he was able to accomplish. You too will need to practice the principles of prosperity daily. Knowing isn't enough. You must do! You must be a ‘doer of the Word’! James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Notice, there is deception in not doing!

But where exactly does prosperity begin? Prosperity begins where you are right now!. Sounds shocking doesn't it. This levels the playing field. You can be in complete poverty, or have a million in the bank; everyone starts out in the same arena. Prosperity is more then a concept, or thought. It involves your whole being - Spirit, Soul and Body. It is a mind set, and more. It involves your emotions, senses, thoughts, attitudes, your entire ‘inner’ world. This determines how you feel about the world around you. When you look around, do you see scarcity or abundance (in your finances, career, opportunities and relationships, etc.). If you see scarcity, you do not have prosperity on the inside of you. What is in your ‘inner world’ will attract what is in your ‘outer world’.

As mentioned before, one way you can activate prosperity is to start seeing abundance in every area. This is faith in action! You may be loaded down with debt and have very little income but you can still start to change the way you “see” things. Rather then seeing debt, lack, deficiency and scarcity, start seeing God’s abundant provision. As a result you will start attracting prosperity. Believe me, Loraine and I started with less then zero money.

Another thing to keep in mind is this, prosperity begins immediately. Once you make a change on the inside you set prosperity in motion ‘at that very moment’. It does not take weeks or months. You do not have to be out of debt, or have never made a mistake. Prosperity loves urgency, and rewards anyone, anywhere, and at any time, that puts the principles of prosperity in place in their life. Prosperity moves at God’s speed, and remember, its invisible. You may not see its effects in minutes, but you can be certain prosperity is at work on your behalf. Actually I have discovered that the moment you put one prosperity principle into practice you create ripples of prosperity. Put another in place and you compound prosperity.

Tell yourself that prosperity can be permanent. Have you ever known anyone who is afraid when something good happens. They just know something bad will happen! For example, a friend gets a big bonus at work. He then thinks that the car will probably brake down, or he’s going to lose his job. He thinks, it's all going to disappear. This is a simple form of fear. But there can be no fear in prosperity. Fear and prosperity cannot exist together in your ‘inner world’, one will squash the other. Here is something that absolutely changed my life and swung the door of prosperity wide open. When prosperity comes, be "thankful". Sounds trivial, but it is far from that. Start being thankful to God for everything. It will change your life.

In Psalm 107 this statement is repeated four times, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.” Another translation says, “Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them.” Trusting in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness is genuine faith! And it’s the kind of faith the makes you truly thankful. Without this kind of faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:16 declares, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” If you really believe that God is going to reward you with prosperity, you will be exceedingly thankful (all the time). And when things get tough, start thanking the Lord for the wonderful things He has done for you!

A “thankful heart” also makes you feel immensely good about yourself. And others will take note as well. Here's something anyone can do. Smile from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. Try it, people will ask, “what's going on”? You can positively effect whatever environment you’re in by simply being happy. People will smile and be upbeat with you. Fear will disappear and prosperity will become a permanent feature of your life.

These prosperity principles are dynamic and they do work. So remind yourself daily - prosperity surrounds itself with faith, loves urgency and rewards those that take action.

Chris Demetriou, 13/06/2010